Oil burning device



4 sheets-shew 1 Dem 24, 1935. H. F. RODLER OIL BURNING DEVICE Filed NOV. 2, 1932 i wx Dec. .24, E935, H. F. RODLER OIL BURNINGDEVIGE Filed Nov. .2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet .2

ATTORNEY n H. F. RODLER Dec. 24, I935.

OIL BURNING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 2, 1932 'A TToREY H. F. RODLER OIL BURNING DEVICE Dec. 24, 1935. 2,025,526

Filed Nov. '2, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 4` l NV TOR.

812mg c@ A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OIL BURNING DEVICE Jersey Application November 2, 1932, Serial No. 640,802

2 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for use in connection with furnaces for heating dwellings, and more particularly to such devices which burn a fluid fuel.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fluid-fuel burning apparatus, which may be readily and conveniently installed in the usual household furnace, and which can be easily removed and replaced for repairs or other purposes whenever necessary,

A further object is the provision of an oil burning apparatus having rotary means for atomizing the oil and effecting an efficient mixture of atomized oil and air.

A further object is theprovision of an oil burning apparatus having means for regulating the volume of air passing therethrough, and having also means to regulate the velocity of the mixture of atomized oil and air and controlling same in a xed direction.

A further object is the provision of an oil burning unit which is not physically connected with a hearth structure or other parts of a furnace whereby the unit will not be heated by conduction of heat from the hearth or furnace parts and suspended in such a manner as to give a full floating power effect which absorbs vibrations at all speeds, A. C. hum of the motor and giving an absorbing cushion to the shocks received by motor bearings when motor starts under load.

A further object is the provision of an oil burning unit having an atomizing device which is shielded from the heat of burning oil, the shield of the'atomizing device forming the means for directional control of the air.

A further object is the provision of novel means in an oil burning unit to take care of an overflow of oil in the event of non-operation of an atomizing device or other parts in the unit.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view in section of oil burning apparatus embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of an atomizing device employed in the oil burning apparatus,

Fig. 3 is an'elevational view of an oil burning apparatus embodying va modified form of the invention designed to use heavy oils,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an atomizing device used in the modified form,

F Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on line 'I-I of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 8 is a general diagrammatic view showing the path of flow of oil and air in the oil burning apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the oil burning apparatus comprises a vertically mounted motor 8 having a shaft l. Mounted on the upper end of the motor is a cylindrical block 5 having a skirt 9 provided with inclined passages I I to which oil is introduced by a pipe IE) communicating therewith. The inclined passages I I lead to an anriuf lar oil chamber I2, also formed in the block 5, one wall I3 of the chamber I2, surrounding the shaft Resting on the upper edge of wall I4 of the chamber I2 is a flange I9 of an annular trough member I5, the walls 2D and I8 of which are spaced respectively from the walls I3 and I4. Positioned in the member I5 is a cylindrical flange 5t of a head 2|, the latter having a central core 28 threadedly connected to the end of shaft l. The flange 5@ is externally threaded at 24 and internally threaded at 25 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The internal wall of the flange 5I)A is flared at 22 providing a throat 21. The head 2l is provided with a plurality of passages 29 communicating with the throat 2l, and the upper end of head 2| is bevelled to provide a sharp edge 30.

Integral with head 2I are a plurality of spaced lugs 3l to which is secured a tubular member 32 which is curved at its upper end to provide a right-angled flange 33 having a sharp edge 34 on its upper surface. These lugs not only act as a support for the outer tubular member and provide air passages, but also act as a small inductive fan. 'Ihe member 32 is spaced from the head 2! except where it engages lugs 3 I, to provide an air passage 44, the spaces between the lugs providing air passages 45. Secured tothe member 32 by a threaded nut 38 is a fan 39.

The tubular member 32 is covered by a plate 35, which is spaced from the flange 33 and attached to a shaft 35, the latter being threadedly connected to core 28, (see Fig. 2).

Attached to the block 5 are spaced struts 46, integral with a cylindrical base 40, upon which is mounted a hood 4I having its upper portion 42 cylindrical in shape. A collar 48 is threadedly mounted on block 5, and has integral therewith a plate 41 spaced from the lower edge of the base 46. By adjusting the plate 41, the volume of air entering the hood may be controlled.

In operation, oil is supplied by the pipe I0 to the passages i and thence to the chamber I2 in which the oil rises to the upper edge of wall 20, and falls over the edge when the surface tension has been overcome. The oil is then picked up by the threads 25 on the flange 56, and thrown upwardly against the inclined surface 22 and into the passages 23, it being understood that the motor is in operation and the parts are rotating at a predetermined speed. The threads 24 force an air stream downwardly, and thus prevent the leakage of oil upwardly over the inner surface of wall I8 of the trough member I5.

In the event that the oil should accumulate in the chamber I2 excessively, due to improper functioning of the apparatus, it will rise over the upper edge of wall I3 and fall down along the shaft 1 into a chamber 6|) in the block 5, and thence through a passage 6| to a gutter I6 integral with and surrounding the block. The gutter I6 communicates with a tube I1, through which the excess oil is drained into any suitable receptacle, such as a bucket, or the like (not shown).

Referring again to the head 2 I, as the oil moves up the walls of passages 29, it strikes the bevelled edge 36 and is broken up or atomized, at the same time the volatile portions are mixed with the air stream, while the heavier portions of the oil move up the walls of member 32. When'the stream of air and volatile portions of the oil strikes the plate 36, the oil partially condenses, but is immediately atomized again when it passes over the edge 31 of plate 36. The heavier particles of oil which move up the walls of member 32 are atomized as they pass over the sharp edge 34 of flange 33; and two streams of atomized oil and air meet and are completely mixed at a short distance from the edge of plate 36, at which time the fuel is ignited.

Attached to the lower end of shaft 1 is a centrifugal governing device 50, which forces a collar 5| downwardly against the action of a spring when the shaft has attained a speed sufficient to cause the atomizing structure to function properly. The downward movement of collar 5| actuates a lever 52 to-move a valve stem 53 to raise a valve head 54 to allow oil to flow from pipe 55, connected with a source of supply, to the pipe I0. This arrangement prevents the flow of oil to the atomizer until the latter has attained a speed sufcient to enable it to operate properly.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modified form of the invention adapted for use with heavy oils. In this form a head 13 is provided with a plurality of passages 14, for example nine in number, through which oil is drawn as above described in connection with Fig. 2, the head having a flange 10 provided with threaded portions 1| and 12 similar to the flange 56 with its threaded portions 24 and 25. The headis mounted on the end of motor shaft 15 and has threaded tc its upper end a tubular member 8 I, whose outer wall is flush with the outer wall of the head. The member 8| has itsupper end flanged and is covered by a plate 84, which is attached to a shaftv connected with the head 13. A collar 9| is threaded onto the head 13, and secures thereto a second tubular member 18 to which is attached a fan 92. The head 13 has nine passages 14, six of which communicate with inclined passages 16 which lead to the space 11 between the walls of tubular members 8| and 18.

When oil is drawn into passages 14, the major portion will pass through passages 16 into the space 11 where it will be mixed with the air forced therein through the apertures 93 in the bottom of member 1B. This portion of the oil moves upwardly in the space 11, the Volatile portion of the oil being condensed as it strikes the underside of the flange` of member BI, and reatomized as it passes over the edge 82, while the heavier portion of the oil is atomized as it passes 10 over the sharp edge 88 of the flange 19.

The oil that passes up along the inner wall of member 8| is partially atomized and partially in a liquid state. The atomized portion condenses on the under side of plate 84 and is atomized as 15 it passes over the edge of the plate 84. The liquid portion is atomized as it passes over the edge 83 on the upper side of the flange on member 8|. The several streams of atomized oil and air are then completely mixed with a whirling motion at 9p a short distance from the edges of plate 84 and member 8i, at which point they are ignited.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the atomizing structure and motel', for both forms of the invention, are mounted on a frame having 25 vertical supports |63, which rest on resilient bases I8 I, excessive vibrations of the motor being absorbed by spring supports |82.

The oil burning apparatus is readilyinstalled in the fire box of a furnace, a hearth of flre brick 30 |93 being built upon the frame. The hood 4| and other parts of the atomizing structure are protected from heat by a metal casting |04 carrying an insulating material |05, and by a ring |06 which rests on the casting |04. The ring |06 has 35 a flange alongside of but spaced from the cylindrical portion 42 of the hood 4|, which provides a space through an additional supply of air passes, at the same time provi-ding an effective heat shield which at no point contacts with the o hood or the atomizing apparatus, thus preventing heating of such parts by conduction. By varying the thickness of ring |06, and by adjusting the height of sharp edge 3D, the velocity of the air stream can be regulated. 45

The general operation of the apparatus is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 8. As'indicated. oil is conducted from a supply source (not shown) by a pipe 55, through a valve A to the pipe I0 to the chamber |2, where it overflows the wall 50 20, and is picked up by the threads 25 and thrown into the passages 29 and partially atomized. It is then mixed With air in the member 32, and finally passes out of the atomizer between plate 36 and flange 33 in a highly atomized form prop- 55 erly mixed with air for eflicient combustion. A stream of air under high velocity is supplied by the fan in the passage between the hood 4| and the member 32.

It will be seen that the oil is rstmechanically 5.0 broken up as it passes over edge 30 (Fig. 2) to produce a mist through which air under high velocity is driven in direct spirals, due to the rotation of the member 32. The oil is again broken up mechanically by the edges 34 and 31 (,:5 and again interrupted by an air spiral created in the passage between the hood 4| and the outer surface of member 32. The lower velocity of the air at the second breaking up of the oil at edges 34 and 31 causes a thorough mixture of atomized 70 oil and air without forcing the mixture out with such velocity that the flame largely breaks against the fire-brick wall. With my arrangement the flame occurs a short distance from the edge 31 and the intimate mixture and the burning of the 75 oil out of contact with any surface causes complete combustion With no caking of fuel on any surface.

While my invention has been described specifically with reference to the burning of oil, it is obvious that it may be readily employed for the atomization and burning of any type of uidfuel without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed including many modifications without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an oil burning apparatus, a vertically mounted motor, an atomizing device connected to the shaft of the motor and rotated thereby, said atomizing device comprising a tubular member having a central core provided with a plurality of passages, means for forcing oil up through the passages in the core, means on the core for atomizing oil into a mist immediately after leaving said passages, said tubular member being spaced from the core at a plurality of points to provide a plurality of passages, the rotation of the tubular member forcing air through the last mentioned passages to mix with the oil mist, a flange at the upper end of the tubular member, a plate spaced from the flange and covering the tubular member, the oil being further atomized as it passes between the flange and plate, a hood surrounding the tubular member, and a fan for creating an air stream in the hood to mix with the atomized oil immediately after the latter passes between said flange and plate.

2. In an oil burning apparatus, a vertical shaft, means for rotating the shaft, an atomizing device connected to the shaft and rotated thereby, said device comprising a tubular member having a central core provided with a plurality of pasl5 sages through which oil flows, means on the core for atomizing the oil into a mist immediately after the oil leaves said passages, said tubular member being spaced from the core at a plurality of points t-o provide a plurality of air passages, the 2o upper end of said tubular member aring upwardly, a plate spaced from the upper end of and covering the tubular member, the oil being further atomized as it passes over the edges of the plate and the tubular member, and means 25 for creating an air stream to mix With the atomized oil immediately after the oil passes over the edges of the plate and the tubular member.

HILMER F. RODLER. 

